WALKING UP 181 



large quantities of birds on a practically unlimited 

 extent of ground. 



I have purposely dwelt on this point, because I 

 have been accused of being an absolute partisan of 

 exclusive driving, and of a consequent contempt for 

 this class of shooting. I must claim a more catholic 

 disposition, and a genuine sympathy, founded on 

 experience, with the beautiful art of making a bag of 

 partridges, practised by those who have a genuine 

 love of sport, but have not the advantages of the great 

 landowner or millionaire. This consists so far as one 

 can sum it up, and granted that you as well as those 

 with you are both active and keen, in so managing 

 your birds that you push them in the first instance 

 in the required direction and deal with them in detail 

 afterwards. To do this you must neglect no cover, 

 open ground, or hedgerow ; you must vary your pace 

 and positions, circumvent, lie in wait for, or drive 

 rapidly on to your birds as circumstances arise, and 

 above all there must be complete harmony and ab- 

 sence of jealousy between you, your colleagues in sport, 

 and your assistants. While you are young, and your 

 game-book as yet contains many blank pages, you will 

 assuredly keep a score of your kills, whether I or anyone 

 else dissuade you or not. But be honest to yourself 

 in this, and remember that the only value your score 



